Pyrotechnic device



Patented Sept. 15, 1931 HANS REIHLEN, F KARLSRUHE, GERMANY; -ASSIGNOR T0 MILTON OFFICE I M. AIDLER,- or

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY" ryno'rncnmo DEVICE No Drawing.

My invention relates to fireworks which are set in action by means of impact, or friction, or heat, and which show a flame accompanied by a series of lively reports; such action taking place in such a way that the article does not explode in mass but rather divides itself into smaller particles which produce, in rapid succession, small, harm-' less explosions.

Up to date such fireworks were made with poisonous yellow phosphorus, potassium chlorate and organic binding materials, such as shellac or gum.

Fireworks made in accordance with my invention are entirely free from poisonous materials. According to the invention sulphur phosphorous compounds and particularly phosphorous sesquisulfide are used'as the active agent. This I have found is a complete and harmless substitute for the poisonous phosphorus. gen, there may be used postassium chlorate or potassium perchlorate and for practical purposes both ofthem. As a binder there are used magnesium chloride and magnesium oxide, a cementitious mixture generally known as sorell cement. In order to produce the explosive mass, I proceed as follows:

Phosphorous sesquisulfide is introduced into a water mixture of potassium chlorate and potassium perchlorate to which has been added a cement mixture consisting of magnesium chloride and magnesium oxide. This mixture is then formed into discs or other shapes or spread on a suitable surface and dried.

The sulphur phosphorous compounds, as for instance phosphorous sesquisulfide, are best not used in finely powdered form. The ordinary phosphorous sesquisulfide should, therefore, be transformed into crystals of appropriate size by recrystallization with carbon bisulfide or other solvents. The

coarser graining of the phosphorous sesquisulfide attained in this way makes for greater durability and a hardening of the composition of the mass or rather the discs made therefrom, as well as lessening the sensitivity to friction and danger from fire.

expediently produced by To produce oxy- Application filed. March 19, 1927. Serial No. 176,833.

On the otherhand, it has been found important to use the potassium perchlorate in the very finest powdered form, chlorate does not need to be so finelyground. The change of theperchlorate into the desired pulverized form can, forinstance, be

protracted tumbling in a pebble mill, with the addition of an effective auxiliary substance which facilitates the grinding, as for instance, fine sand.

As an example of the mixture, I dissolve 12 grams of crystallized magnesium chloride in grams or moreof water, and after adding 8 grams of potassium chlorate and then a mixture of 32 grams of potassium perchlorate and 8 grams of sand, I stir these ingredients into'a thick paste. Into this mixture I incorporate 24 grams of burned magnesite (MgCO and then add 14 grams of phosphorous sesquisulfide, and mix very thoroughly. Out of this paste discs of the at moderate temperatures, as for instance,

40 to 70 centrigrade. The discs may alsov be used, for instance, in the following way: that a number of them may be pasted next to each other on paper or paper strips. By

although the desired size are made and dried igniting the paper, the individual discs or.

pellets can be made to explode one after the other, with a loud report. Also, in its wet state, the composition may, for instance, be deposited on a fuse and then dried. In burning the fuse, the desired harmless partial explosions follow each other in rapid succession. 1 I

In order to produce the oxygen, there may be used, in place of the potassium chlorate and potassium perchlorate, such other chlorates and perchlorates as e. g. of sodium, of magnesium, or of the alkaline earths. When such substitutes are used, it is desirable to cover the finished discs or other forms with suitable protective coatings, as for instance, those made of collodion.

Pyrotechnic articles made in accordance with the above invention have the advantage of being entirely free from poisonous sub stances. With this preparation the organic binding material and adhesives heretofore rate to produce oxygen and using as a binding material, a sorell cement.

2. Fireworks containln hos ahorous sesu i b i quisulfide, potassium chlorate, potassium perchlorate, sorell cement and sand.

3. A method of 'n'oducln fireworks characterized in that phosphorous sesquisulfide in crystalline form is mixed with potassium chlorate and very finely pulverized potassium perchlorate,.magnesium chloride and 'magnesium oxide, in connection with a liquid, and the mixture then dried.

In testimony that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of February, 1927.

r V HANS REIHLEN'. 

